| 09 March 2009
Victim #1: The story of the curse begins in February 22, 2001, when Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix pulled off a trade that would bring a second Stanley Cup to Colorado in June. #18 Adam Deadmarsh (who wore #18 with Colorado since the team moved from Quebec to Denver in 1995) and Aaron Miller, two 1st first round picks and a prospect were traded to the LA Kings in exchange for Rob Blake and Stephen Reinprecht. Adam would not wear #18 again -- he was issued #28 in LA and retired as a King in 2005.
Victim #2: The next season, emerging star forward Chris Drury, who previously wore #37, claimed the now vacant #18. He had good reason: Drury and his brother, Ted, both wore #18 playing high school hockey at Fairfield College Prep, where it is now retired in their honor. However, Drury would only make it one season with #18. After only scoring 46 points ‘01 - ‘02, he was traded to Calgary on October 1, 2002. Chris has not worn #18 since -- he wore #37 in Calgary and #23 with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. 
Victim #3: Alex Tanguay stuck with his customary #40 throughout the ’02 - ’03 season, but couldn’t resist it the next season. He wore #18 in juniors where it was retired by the Halifax Mooseheads. He made it two seasons before being traded (‘03 - ‘04 and ‘05 - ‘06). Then, largely due to the salary cap, Tanguay was traded to Calgary for Jordan Leopold in new GM Francios Giguere’s first move. Like Deadmarsh and Drury, Tanguay has not worn #18 since he was traded by the Avalanche. He wore #40 in Calgary and is now wearing #13 in Montreal.
Victim #4?: Brian Willsie is now trying to shake the curse. Brian wore #50 with the Avs from ‘99 - ‘03. He was signed as a free agent in July 15, 2008 . He made it through this year's trade deadline, but, Brian, it’s only a matter of time…
Number Watch: Matt Hendricks was recalled from Lake Erie today. According to the Avs website, Matt Hendricks will wear #53 (last worn by Brett McLean). The 28 year old who has played minor league hockey since ‘02 - ‘03 is finally getting his chance to play in the NHL. (Well, unless he gets
scratched.)
scratched.)
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